Hill, whose season ended on May 29 when he sustained a concussion in a collision with shortstop David Eckstein, expects to be ready by opening day.

Hill is working out three times a week at the team's complex in Dunedin.

"Everything is fine," he said before a session with pitchers Roy Halladay and Jesse Litsch. "I got the go-ahead about a month or so ago to go full time. It's been good fun getting here every day and actually doing some things."

FURCAL'S AGENTS SHUNNED

Atlanta Braves president John Schuerholz has vowed to never again do business with Rafael Furcal's agents, whom Schuerholz accused in a newspaper interview of conducting "despicable" dealings with the team.

Schuerholz and Braves general manager Frank Wren were quoted as saying the Wasserman Media Group negotiated dishonestly by taking the team's signed terms of agreement sheet for Furcal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who then reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday to re-sign the shortstop. Furcal finalized his three-year contract with the Dodgers yesterday.

Wren has said he believed the request by agent Paul Kinzer for a term sheet signed by the Braves meant an agreement had been reached.

Schuerholz said he would never make an offer for any other player represented by the agency, which includes Kinzer and agents Arn Tellem, Adam Katz and Joel Wolfe. Tellem heads the baseball practice.

"Having been in this business for 40-some years, I've never seen anybody treated like that," Schuerholz was quoted as saying in yesterday's editions of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The 30-year-old outfielder hit .246 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs in 89 games for the Angels last season, his fourth with the team. All 12 of his homers came in a span of 58 games after July 2.

Rivera figures to play the outfield and serve as a designated hitter. The Angels are in negotiations to re-sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, and they might pursue free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez should Teixeira sign elsewhere.

BRIEFLY

The Florida Marlins and pitcher Josh Johnson have agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. Johnson, 23, returned from elbow surgery in July to post a 7-1 record and a 3.61 ERA. He is projected to be the Marlins' No. 1 starter in 2008 ... Outfielder Jody Gerut agreed with the San Diego Padres on a one-year contract worth $1,775,000. The 31-year-old hit .296 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs in 100 games for the Padres last season ... Greg Norton and the Braves agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract, a deal that keeps the 36-year-od pinch-hit specialist in Atlanta ... Australian pitcher Travis Blackley agreed to a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.